Anti-biocontaminant Products and Processes for Making the Same

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to micro-sized particles having anti-biocontaminant properties. Each particle is comprised of a central metal core, or support structure, (for example, alumina oxide) and has on its surface, one or more anti-biocontaminant metals and at least one redox agent.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application60/774,373 filed on Feb. 17, 2006.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to methods and reagents to be used in thedeposition of antimicrobial and antiviral substances on porous ornon-porous structures or particles. Furthermore, the present inventionrelates to antimicrobial and antiviral (“antibiocontaminant”) products.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Microbial infections account for a relatively large portion of U.S.healthcare costs. For example, hospital-acquired microbial infectionsresult in nearly 88,000 deaths each year in the United States, whileaffecting roughly 2 million people. These infections add an estimated $5billion to $6.7 billion to healthcare costs annually. See Dresher W H.Copper Helps Control Infection in Healthcare Facilities, August 2004. Inview of these numbers, there is a growing interest in efficient methodswhich produce products having antimicrobial properties; and the productsproduced therefrom.

An object of the present invention is to provide methods which producematerials and products having the ability to kill microorganisms orinhibit the growth of microorganisms in a wide range of applications.

Gas and liquid filters are frequent sites for the colonization andgrowth of microorganisms, often leading to changes in the filter'sfunctional characteristics and infection of downstream products.Examples include food and chemical/biotech processing installations,home and institutional water supplies for drinking and other uses,filters for recirculation systems such as vehicle and aircraft cabinair, swimming pools, wash installations and laboratory or high QCmanufacture facilities.

Mud baths, for example, are becoming increasingly popular at variousresorts and spas across the world. However, while these baths providefor many minerals which may “revitalize” a person's body, they can be arefuge for bacterial growth and colonization.

Dust masks can be susceptible to the capture of growing bacteria and,accordingly, would benefit from the application of antimicrobial andantiviral reagents, for example nanoscale antimicrobial metals, whereinthe reagent(s) can penetrate and bind to the semi-porous structure.

Camping equipment, such as straws and canteens, can be vulnerable to thecapture and seeding of bacteria and fungi. This equipment would bewell-suited for the application of antimicrobial reagents, for examplenanoscale antimicrobial metals, wherein the reagent(s) can bind to thestructure and serve as a filtering mechanism, guarding the camperagainst drinking bacteria-laden liquid.

Other materials and products in need of efficient antimicrobial andantiviral characteristics include medical equipment such as mechanicalventilators, hospital linens, water supply systems, catheters and otherbiodevices.

Many of the existing methods presently used for providing antimicrobialprotection to materials are unable to efficiently remove, or inhibit thegrowth of, microbe(s) because the reagent providing the protection isunable to reach deep into the pores and crevices present in and on thematerials and products. A further problem with existing methods is arapid desorption of the antimicrobial from the material or product,rendering the material ineffective after a short period of time. Theconverse to this problem is a stable composite that is unreactive andthus ineffective against the removal or inhibition of microbes. Currentmethods often require multiple steps: pre-treat, drying, mixing,calcining, post-treatment, and final drying. These methods are oftentime consuming and require large capital expenses.

The present invention ameliorates the foregoing issues by providingmethods which can be used to develop antimicrobial and antiviralmaterials (herein described as “anti-biocontaminants”) and products,wherein the materials and products provide a high surface area and/orporous structure for efficient exposure to the antibiocontaminantreagent as used herein.

The present invention allows for one to adjust the stability andreactivity of the antimicrobial agent disclosed herein. This compromisebetween stability and reactivity is achieved through a two-step mix anddry process. Antibiocontaminant reagents used in conjunction with thepresent methods are able to penetrate into the porous structure of anymaterial thereby providing a larger area of potential antimicrobialcontact as compared to prior art methods. The methods described hereinproduce materials and products that are adjustable in the quantities ofdeliverable antimicrobial reagents. The methods described herein producematerials and products having the ability to kill microorganisms andviruses and/or inhibit the growth of microorganisms and viruses in awide range of applications.

Furthermore, the present invention is directed to anti-biocontaminantproducts. Another object of the present invention is to provide productshaving water resistant anti-biocontaminant activity and thus maintainsantimicrobial activity in water-contacting environments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to micro-sized particles havinganti-biocontaminant properties. Each particle is comprised of a centralmetal core, or support structure, (for example, alumina oxide) and hason its surface, one or more anti-biocontaminant metals and at least oneredox agent. See FIG. 1. The anti-biocontaminant metals may be ionic orcolloidal. The central core may be a metal or a metal oxide. Theinvention further relates to the absorption and adsorption of theseparticles onto a variety of support structures, for example porous(inorganic) compounds. For example, a colloidal suspension comprisingone or more metals and at least one redox agent is dispersed onto asupport structure, for example a porous structure, allowing theabsorption and adsorption of the metal, its ions, and the redox agentinto pore voids and onto the surface of the structure. The combinationcreates a mechanism that can be adjusted for precise functioning bymanipulating bed depth (for example, bed depth of a chromatographycolumn), particle size, pore size of the central core, pore size of thecoated central metal core, metal loading, moisture and redox agents. Theinvention has the ability to destroy or inhibit microorganisms in awider range of applications and with greater efficiency than with thecolloidal metal or porous structure alone. The colloidal and/or ionicmetal, for example silver, penetrates the pores of the supportstructure. The formed anti-biocontaminant bead can then be applied to amaterial to be protected, thereby inhibiting the formation ofmicro-colony bacterial growth and/or killing the microorganisms alreadypresent. The present invention provides a controllable ion release viacontrolled redox reactions at the surface of the anti-biocontaminantparticle. The application of the colloidal metal and redox agent to thesurface of the central structure, for example a porous structure,creates an environment where the particle is similar to a microscopicthin layer chromatographic plate or surface. Application of thecolloidal metal, or ionic metal, to the surface of the supportstructure, in combination with the adsorptive properties of thestructure, result in an anti-biocontaminant particle having on itssurface: metal (colloidal or ionic), one or more redox agents, and metalcomplexed with the one or more redox agents. If the support structure isporous, the applied colloidal or ionic metal is retained within thesepores.

Examples of anti-biocontaminant metals for applying, or dispersing onto,to the surface of the support structure include, but are not limited to,silver, copper, manganese, nickel, tin, zinc, and brass. In oneembodiment, one or more of these metals are ionic. In anotherembodiment, one or more of these metals are colloidal. In yet anotherembodiment, one or more of these metals are metallic. Such metals mayused in a colloidal suspension comprising at least one redox agent forapplication, or dispersion, onto the target. Silver is a safe metalbecause, in its metallic state, there is very little that is absorbedinto the body. Thus, silver is used as tableware and in artificialteeth. In an ionic state, it exhibits antimicrobial activity. Copper hasbeen used in cotton fibers, latex, and other polymeric materials. Coppertechnology has produced antiviral gloves and filters, self-sterilizingfabrics like hospital bed linens that kill antibiotic-resistantbacteria, antifungal socks, and anti-dust mite mattresses and mattresscovers. See, for example, Borkow and Gabbay, Putting Copper into Action:Copper-Impregnated Products with Potent Biocidal Activities, FASEB J.2004; 18:1728-1730.

Examples of the central metal core, or support structure, include, butare not limited to: Aluminum oxide, Iron oxide, Manganese oxide, Silica,Zeolites, Titanium oxide, Copper oxide, Zinc oxide, and any of theforegoing metals impregnated with silica gel.

Examples of target materials and products for application of theanti-biocontaminant beads of the present invention include, but are notlimited to, alumina, silica, woven and non-woven products, plastic,synthetic fibers, natural fibers, thermoplastic polymers, paper, cloth,mud bath products and minerals, medical wipes, catheters, leather, dustmasks, sipping straws, filters, canteens, metal, titanium oxide,zirconium oxide, zeolite, and silica gel. Alumina is an example of aporous structure that is known to have a high surface area to weightratio due to the pores and tunnels that exist in a given aluminacrystal. Examples of thermoplastic polymers include, but are not limitedto, polyamides, polyvinyl, polyolefins, polyurethanes, polyethyleneterephthalate, and styrene-butadiene rubbers. The anti-biocontaminantbeads of the present invention may also be crushed into a fine powderfor application to various cloths and dust masks, for example.

FIGURE DESCRIPTIONS

FIG. 1A—Diagrammatic representation of the colloidal suspension-coatedbeads of the present invention. The core/support structure of each beadmay have pores which (1) increase the surface area exposed to thebio-contaminant and (2) trap the biocontaminant.

FIG. 1B—Diagrammatic representation of the core/support beads comprisinghydroxyl groups. The hydroxyl groups serve to aid in the formation ofcomplexes of the anti-biocontaminant beads of the present invention.

FIG. 2—Percent reduction in bio-contaminant colony growth.

FIG. 3—Colony growth after 15 seconds contact with colloidalsuspension-coated beads.

FIG. 4—Beads prior to coating with colloidal suspension.

FIG. 5—Colloidal suspension coated beads.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The ability of a metal to inhibit microorganism growth, or alternativelykill microorganisms, requires direct contact for the reaction to takeplace. It has been suggested that the presence of colloidal silver neara virus, fungi, bacterium, or any other micro-pathogen disables enzymesrequired for oxygen-metabolism. The herein described process of applyinga colloidal suspension of antimicrobial metal, for example silver, and aredox agent to a porous support structure, for example alumina oralumina oxide, allows the target material to better adsorb the silver.The pores of the support structure “trap” or retain the silver. Theresultant anti-biocontaminant bead(s) is useful in the destruction of avariety of micro-pathogens, including viruses. The herein disclosedmethods create greater effectiveness and increase the range ofapplications by taking advantage of the properties of the silver, forexample, which are contained in a colloidal mixture. The alumina, forexample a porous alumina, provides the surface area necessary to retainthe anti-biocontaminant metal and increases the likelihood that anorganism will come into contact with the silver. Given the rightconditions the silver can desorb and move freely within a complex ofbeads, or within the material to which the beads are applied. Hydroxylgroups, which emanate from each core support structure, allow forindividual beads to complex. See FIG. 1B. The desorption of silvercreates further possibilities for the microorganism to come into contactwith silver. The greater surface area creates more opportunities for themicroorganism to come into contact with the antimicrobial metal, thegreater the likelihood the microorganism will be destroyed.

When placed into a packed bed target material, for example materialpacked into a chromatography column, the tortuous path that is createdfor the microbial contaminant increases the likelihood that themicroorganism will come into contact with a metal adsorbed to thesupport structure. Fluid velocity that provides turbulent flow throughthe packed bed increases the likelihood that the microorganism will comeinto contact with the adsorbed metal. Furthermore, the desorption of aredox agent, for example sodium thiosulfate, interacting with the metal,for example silver, causes an ion release through oxidation andsubsequent dissolution of the oxide. In a preferred embodiment, silvercations and the one or more redox agents, complex at the surface of thesupport structure. This complexation results in the formation of asilver thiosulfate ion complex. These complexes can be furtherstabilized at the surface of the support structure by the addition ofone or more amines. The stabilizing amines may be selected from thegroup consisting of primary amines, secondary amines, and tertiaryamines. An amine is any nitrogen atom comprising at least onesubstituent. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,468,521 to Pedersen andU.S. Pat. No. 6,923,990 to Capelli. The anti-biocontaminant beads of thepresent invention are easily manipulated by adjusting the proportions ofingredients in the colloidal suspension and/or the physicalcharacteristics of the support structure (such as size, pore size,etc.). Such manipulations may be useful when tailoring the structure andfunction of the beads or powder to the types and/or sizes of bacteriaand/or viruses to be inhibited or killed.

DEFINITIONS

Incipient wetness” refers to the maximum liquid capacity to the point ofapparent wetness. It is the maximum amount of liquid that can becontained in a porous solid.

Colloidal mixture” refers to a mixture where particles are dispersedthroughout another substance that cannot be visually detected asseparate but can be separated by a semi-permeable membrane. As usedherein, the colloidal mixture refers to one or more metals (in ionic,metallic, or colloidal form) and one or more redox agents in a colloidalmedium. Alternatively, the foregoing mixture may further comprise one ormore amines.

Colloidal medium” refers to the substance carrying the metals and one ormore redox agents. For example the colloidal medium may be water,gelatin, or other polymeric fluids.

Desorption” refers to the process of removing a sorbed substance by thereverse of adsorption or absorption. For example, the process ofremoving an adsorbed material from the solid on which it is adsorbed.

Redox agent” refers to a compound that is involved in areduction/oxidation reaction.

Activated” refers to the removal of water in a porous structurerevealing adsorptive sites on the surface of the target material. Forexample, activated alumina refers to alumina that has been heated toabout 250° C. for about 1 hour. An adsorbent has the capacity ortendency to adsorb or cause to accumulate on a surface.

Methyl Violet” refers to tetramethyl, pentamethyl, or hexamethylpararosaniline or any combination thereof.

Methyl Orange” refers to p-dimethylamino-azobenzenesulfonic acid.

As used herein, the anti-biocontaminant particle “core” is usedinterchangeably with “support structure.”

Beads” refer to spherical core particles having been coated with acolloidal suspension of the present invention ranging in size from about100 μm to about 6 mm.

Powder” refers to core particles, having been coated with a colloidalsuspension of the present invention, of any shape less than about 100μm.

Biocontaminant” refers to any virus or bacteria to be killed by thepresent invention.

Providing an anti-biocontaminant effect to a target material” refers toimparting an anti-microbial or anti-viral activity to the targetmaterial via the application of the anti-biocontaminant compositions ofthe present invention to the target material.

In one aspect of the present invention, a colloidal metal solution isprovided and contains between approximately 1% and approximately 4%metal by mass. It is preferred that the colloidal metal solution containless than 4% metal by mass. It is further preferred that the colloidalmetal solution contain less than 3% metal by mass. It is still furtherpreferred that the colloidal metal solution contain less than 2% metalby mass. It is preferred that the colloidal medium is water and 0%-5%gelatin and 0%-5% polymeric fluid. The colloidal mixture of the presentinvention comprises, for example, at least one redox agent and one ormore metals. Redox agents are well known in the art. An example of aredox agent is sodium thiosulfate. The porous (for example an inorganicmaterial, metal oxide, or fibrous material) material can have a surfacearea between zero and infinity (“∞”).

The central support structure may be porous; for example, having a porediameter of between about 0.1 nm (1 Å) and 50 nm (500 Å). In oneembodiment the central structure has a pore diameter of between about 2nm (20 Å) and 50 nm (500 Å). In yet another embodiment, the centralstructure has a pore diameter of between 2 nm and 20 nm. The presentlydescribed anti-biocontaminant beads may have porous central supportstructures, wherein the pore size is easily manipulated to accommodatethe size of the biocontaminant to be killed. For example, the influenzavirus is much smaller than the smallpox virus. It may be necessary toadjust the pore size of the central support structure of each bead toinsure that the smaller virus is trapped, or adsorbed, within the pore.Too large of a pore will allow smaller biocontaminants to escape beingtrapped. The addition of colloidal metal to a porous compound should bebetween 25% by mass to the incipient wetness point.

Examples of antimicrobial metals include, but are not limited to,silver, copper, any zeolite, manganese, nickel, tin, zinc, and brass.These metals are applied to the surface of each support structure in acolloidal mixture. Silver is a safe metal because, in its metallicstate, there is very little that is absorbed into the body. Thus, silveris used as tableware and in artificial teeth. In an ionic state, itexhibits antimicrobial activity. Copper has been used in cotton fibers,latex, and other polymeric materials. Copper technology has producedantiviral gloves and filters, self-sterilizing fabrics like hospital bedlinens that kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria, antifungal socks, andanti-dust mite mattresses and mattress covers. See, for example, Borkowand Gabbay, Putting Copper into Action: Copper-Impregnated Products withPotent Biocidal Activities, FASEB J. 2004; 18:1728-1730.

Examples of target materials and products for application of theanti-biocontaminant beads or powder of the present invention include,but are not limited to, woven and non-woven products, plastic, syntheticfibers, natural fibers, thermoplastic polymers, paper, cloth, mud bathproducts and minerals, medical wipes, catheters, leather, dust masks,sipping straws, filters, canteens, and metal. Alumina is an example of aporous structure that is known to have a high surface area to weightratio due to the pores and tunnels that exist in a given aluminacrystal. Examples of thermoplastic polymers include, but are not limitedto, polyamides, polyvinyl, polyolefins, polyurethanes, polyethyleneterephthalate, and styrene-butadiene rubbers.

The anti-biocontaminant beads of the present invention can be added orapplied to the target materials by methods well known in the art. Suchmethods include, but are not limited to, spin coating, dip coating, diecoating, chemical vapor deposition, incipient wetness, and curtaincoating. Alternatively, the beads of the present invention may beapplied to a target material by impregnating methods well known in theart. Such methods include, but are not limited to, vacuum impregnationand low temperature impregnation.

The present invention can be effective at the point of incipient wetnessor can be dried to low moisture. Application will dictate the moisturecontent of the invention. Liquid applications requiring a quick leach ofmetal would prefer the wet embodiment of the invention, wherein leachingrefers to the removal of soluble or insoluble constituents by the actionof a percolating liquid (i.e. the introduction of a substance into aliquid stream from a stationary solid through mass transfer). Gaseousapplications would prefer a drier embodiment of the invention, whereinthere is relatively low moisture, for example 0% moisture. Depending onthe application, the material can be tailored to maximize theeffectiveness. The compound should be dried at 150° C. (above boilingwater temp) with a reasonable flow of clean dry air to facilitate theremoval of moisture from the system.

Aluminas are multifunctional materials with ratios of active sites andpores. Engineering the active alumina to contain advantageous surfacefunctionalities while reducing undesirable sites is fast becoming ascience and is a powerful tool in the design of selective adsorptionunits. The material has physio-chemical properties.

Having now generally described the invention, the same will be morereadily understood through reference to the following Examples which areprovided by way of illustration, and are not intended to be limiting ofthe present invention.

EXAMPLE 1 Alumina Bead Preparation and Test

A 4% silver colloidal solution is prepared by adding 2.78 g silvernitrate, 1.07 g silver fluoride, 1.76 g silver chloride, 1.0 g gelatin,and 970 mg of sodium thiosulfate to enough water to make 100 mLs ofsolution (Solution A). 33 ml of distilled water was added to 67 ml ofsolution A (forming Solution B). Solution B was added to 100 g Versal GH(powder), an alumina gel, or pseudoboehmite alumina, gamma alumina,chi-rho alumina, or eta alumina, and/or bayerite alumina. Each of VersalGH, alumina gel, or pseudoboehmite alumina, gamma alumina, chi-rhoalumina, or eta alumina, and/or bayerite alumina serve as the centralsupport structure of the subsequently formed anti-biocontaminant beads.The mixture was then dried in a convection oven ramped at 3° C./min to150° C. and held at 150° C. for 1 hour or until thoroughly dried.

Staphylococcus aureus colonies were reduced by an average of 99% and97%. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Aspergillus niger,Candida albicans, and Bacillus subtilis were also tested.

Approximately 0.18-2.0 grams the test sample (the above-described beads)were weighed and placed into a sterile test tube (in duplicate). Eachset of two tubes were inoculated with 100 to 200 colony forming units(cfus). The tubes were vortexed and allowed to sit for one minute. Afterone minute, 2 mL of DI water was added to each tube and each tube wasvortexed again. The content of each tube was plated in a 150×15 mmplate. The tubes were rinsed with 2 mL of DI water, vortexed and thecontent added to the plate with the product and DI water. An additionalrinse of 1 ml DI water was performed and the rinsate was added to thesame plate. Molten (45° C.) TSA was incorporated into each plate and theplates allowed to incubate.

Positive controls were performed by adding the same inoculum volume to 2mL of DI water. The rinsing and plating was performed in the same way asthe test samples. Inoculum verification plates were performed by platingthe inoculum volume in molten TSA. Negative controls were performed forthe DI water and the TSA used.

The foregoing protocol resulted in a 98.6% reduction in Aspergillusniger; and 98.2% reduction in Candida albicans; and 99.2% reduction inB. subtilis; 98.6% reduction in Mycobacterium smegmatis; a 100%reduction in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; a 100% reduction in Staphylococcusaureus; and a 100% reduction in E. coli. See FIG. 2.

EXAMPLE 2 CFU Recovered after 15 Seconds Exposure to Alumina Beads (SeeFIG. 3)

1.0 × 10⁵ Bacteria Cells Small Beads 1 Small Beads 2 PowderStaphylococcus aureus 0.001 0.001 0.023 Pseudomonas aeruginosa 0 0 0Escherichia coli 0 0.001 0 Mycobacterium smegatis 0 0 0

EXAMPLE 3 TCLP Analysis

Toxic Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) is an EPA analyticalmethod that simulates leaching in test samples. Based uponconcentrations of the TCLP constituents and guidelines set forth in 40CFR 261.4, the samples can be deemed hazardous or non-hazardous. Thesamples tested passed the TCLP analysis (the colloidal silver did notleach off of the substrate).

EXAMPLE 4 Kill Time Analysis

Samples were assayed for the time it takes for material to kill amicroorganism coming into contact with the sample.

The kill time can be adjusted for each support structure according tothe methods described herein. Accordingly, microorganism kill time canbe on the order of 2 minutes, 1 minute, 30 seconds, 15 seconds, zeroseconds upon contact with the samples described herein.

EXAMPLE 5 Activating Alumina Media for Killing Small Poxyaccinia Virus

Dissolve 20 mg of silver flouride and 14.6 mg of sodium thiosulfate to850 ml of distilled water and add to 1 kg of activated alumina beads (2mm to 5 mm in diameter), then add 0.5 g of Methyl Violet and 5 ml ofMethyl Orange. Adjust the overall pH to 0.5 by adding acid to thecomposition. Store overnight. The next day, decant the solution and washthe alumina beads three times with 1 liter of distilled water, decantingthe solution after each wash. Further dry the material in an opencontainer for roughly 4 to 5 hours, followed by oven drying at 240° C.to 260° C. for roughly 3 to 4 hours. As an alternative to oven drying,one may dry the alumina beads in a desiccant chamber containing silicagel at roughly 150° C. for about 1 hour. The alumina beads may beimpregnated with silica gel. This impregnation enhances the ability toretain various methyl compounds on the surface of the beads.

EXAMPLE 6 Killing Small Pox Using Prepared Alumina Beads or ImpregnatedSilica Particles from Example 5

Roughly 1×10⁵ to 1×10⁶ cells vaccinia (member of the pox family) viruseswere added to silica-gel impregnated alumina beads to approximate 0.5ml. Roughly 100,000 to 1,000,000 viruses were added to alumina beads,described in Example 5, to approximate 0.5 ml. The viruses andimpregnated alumina beads were incubated for 30 minutes at roomtemperature with moderate shaking. After shaking, the tubes were placedupright and the beads were allowed to settle. The supernatant was thenplated onto roughly 1×10⁵ Vero cells. These Vero cells are from a cellline developed from African green monkey nephrocytes. No growth of thevirus was observed.

EXAMPLE 7 Percent Reduction of Colony Forming Units Using Alumina Beadsor Powder

The procedure followed for the below-identified data was the same asdescribed in Example 1. The “powder” represents granulized alumina beadshaving been coated, as described in Example 1, with silver and the redoxagent, sodium thiosulfate. Such powder is useful for impregnating clothor face masks, for example.

% CFU Reduction (from 1000 cfus) Organism Alumina Beads 1 Alumina Beads2Powder B. subtilis 99.9 98.5 100 E. coli 100 100 100 S. aureus 100 100100 P. aeruginosa 99.4 99.8 99.5 M. smegatis 100 100 99.9

EXAMPLE 8 Percent Reduction of Colony Forming Units Using Alumina Beadsor Powder After 15 Seconds Contact Time with Alumina Beads orPowder-Colony Forming Units Recovered

Alumina Alumina Positive Inoculum Organism Beads 1 Beads 2 Powderinoculum Verified S. aureus 0 0 0 248 282 P. aeruginosa 0 0 0 63 43 E.coli 1 1 0 279 272 M. smegatis 0 0 0 76 112

It is understood that the disclosed invention is not limited to theparticular methodology, protocols, and reagents described as these mayvary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein isfor the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is notintended to limit the scope of the present invention which will belimited only by the appended claims.

It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, thesingular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural reference unless thecontext clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “ahost cell” includes a plurality of such host cells, reference to “theantibody” is a reference to one or more antibodies and equivalentsthereof known to those skilled in the art, and so forth.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meanings as commonly understood by one of skill in the artto which the disclosed invention belongs. Although any methods andmaterials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used inthe practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods,devices, and materials are as described. Publications cited herein andthe material for which they are cited are specifically incorporated byreference. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that theinvention is not entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of priorinvention.

Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain usingno more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specificembodiments of the invention described herein. Such equivalents areintended to be encompassed by the following claims.

1-25. (canceled)
 26. An anti-biocontaminant product comprising: asupport structure; and a colloidal suspension dispersed on the supportstructure, the colloidal suspension including one or moreanti-biocontaminant metals, gelatin, and a redox agent in a colloidalmedium.
 27. The anti-biocontaminant product of claim 26, wherein the oneor more anti-biocontaminant metals include one or more of silver,copper, manganese, nickel, tin, zinc, and brass.
 28. Theanti-biocontaminant product of claim 26, wherein the one or moreanti-biocontaminant metals include one or more of ionic metals,colloidal metals, and metallic metals.
 29. The anti-biocontaminantproduct of claim 26, wherein the one or more anti-biocontaminant metalsinclude one or more metal salts.
 30. The anti-biocontaminant product ofclaim 29, wherein the one or more metal salts include one or more ofsilver nitrate, silver fluoride, and silver chloride.
 31. Theanti-biocontaminant product of claim 26, wherein the colloidalsuspension includes between about 1% to about 4% by mass of the one ormore anti-biocontaminant metals.
 32. The anti-biocontaminant product ofclaim 26, wherein the support structure having the colloidal suspensiondispersed thereon is treated with one or more of methyl orange andmethyl violet.
 33. The anti-biocontaminant product of claim 26, whereinthe redox agent of the colloidal suspension includes sodiumthiosulphate.
 34. The anti-biocontaminant product of claim 26, whereinthe support structure is non-porous.
 35. The anti-biocontaminant productof claim 26, wherein the support structure is porous.
 36. Theanti-biocontaminant product of claim 35, wherein the support structureincludes one or more of alumina, alumina gel, pseudoboehmite, gamma,chi-rho, eta, and bayerite alumina.
 37. The anti-biocontaminant productof claim 26, further comprising a target material, wherein the supportstructure having the colloidal suspension dispersed thereon is appliedto the target material.
 38. The anti-biocontaminant product of claim 37,wherein the target material includes one or more of woven and non-wovenproducts, plastic, synthetic fibers, natural fibers, thermoplasticpolymers, paper, cloth, mud bath products, leather, medical wipes,catheters, dust masks, sipping straws, filters, canteens, and metal. 39.An anti-biocontaminant product comprising: a target material; ananti-biocontaminant composition applied to the target material; theanti-biocontaminant composition comprising a support structure havingdispersed thereon a colloidal suspension, the colloidal suspensionincluding one or more anti-biocontaminant metals, gelatin, and a redoxagent in a colloidal medium.
 40. The anti-biocontaminant product ofclaim 39, wherein the target material includes one or more of woven andnon-woven products, plastic, synthetic fibers, natural fibers,thermoplastic polymers, paper, cloth, mud bath products, leather,medical wipes, catheters, dust masks, sipping straws, filters, canteens,and metal.
 41. The anti-biocontaminant product of claim 39, wherein theone or more anti-biocontaminant metals include one or more of silver,copper, manganese, nickel, tin, zinc, and brass.
 42. Theanti-biocontaminant product of claim 39, wherein the one or moreanti-biocontaminant metals include one or more of ionic metals,colloidal metals, and metallic metals.
 43. The anti-biocontaminantproduct of claim 39, wherein the one or more anti-biocontaminant metalsinclude one or more metal salts.
 44. The anti-biocontaminant product ofclaim 43, wherein the one or more metal salts include one or more ofsilver nitrate, silver fluoride, and silver chloride.
 45. Theanti-biocontaminant product of claim 39, wherein the colloidalsuspension includes between about 1% to about 4% by mass of the one ormore anti-biocontaminant metals.
 46. The anti-biocontaminant product ofclaim 39, wherein the anti-biocontaminant composition is treated withone or more of methyl orange and methyl violet.
 47. Theanti-biocontaminant product of claim 39, wherein the colloidalsuspension further comprises one or more amines.
 48. Theanti-biocontaminant product of claim 39, wherein the redox agent of theanti-biocontaminant composition includes sodium thiosulphate.
 49. Theanti-biocontaminant product of claim 39, wherein the support structureis non-porous.
 50. The anti-biocontaminant product of claim 39, whereinthe support structure is porous.
 51. The anti-biocontaminant product ofclaim 50, wherein the support structure includes one or more of alumina,alumina gel, pseudoboehmite, gamma, chi-rho, eta, and bayerite alumina.52. The anti-biocontaminant product of claim 50, wherein the materialhas a pore size of between about 0.1 nm (1 Å) and 50 nm (500 Å).
 53. Theanti-biocontaminant product of claim 39, wherein the anti-biocontaminantcomposition is dried prior to being applied to the target material. 54.The anti-biocontaminant product of claim 53, wherein drying thecomposition includes drying the composition at 150° C. for about 1 hour.55. The anti-biocontaminant product of claim 53, wherein drying thecomposition includes drying the composition at 150° C. in the presenceof a desiccant silica gel.
 56. The anti-biocontaminant product of claim53, wherein drying the composition includes drying the composition atbetween about 240° C. to about 260° C. for between about 3-4 hours. 57.The anti-biocontaminant product of claim 39, wherein theanti-biocontaminant composition is dried after being applied to thetarget material.